PETER Besseling has officially been returned as Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor.
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Returning officer Ken Raison declared the mayoral poll just after 4.15pm on September 15.
Three candidates contested the mayoral ballot.
Peter Besseling secured 28,086 first preference votes.
His nearest rival, Peta Pinson, attracted 14,274 votes, followed by Sharon Griffiths with 6374.
More than 50,000 residents voted with 1563 informal votes recorded.
Official documentation showed the counting of votes resulted in the election of Peter Besseling as mayor and Mr Raison declared him duly elected as mayor until the next ordinary election of the council.
Residents were presented with two ballot papers on election day – one to decide the mayor and another to decide eight councillors.
Mr Raison said the councillor count was progressing well.
The councillor count involves the use of sophisticated software.
Some 26 candidates contested the councillor election on September 10.